Spectator seat and carrying case

ABSTRACT

A spectator seat for optional use either in one mode of assembly as a carrying case for transporting articles to and from a stadium event or the like, such as a parade, or in another mode of assembly as a seat for attachment over a space on a conventional flat backless bench seat and wherein the spectator seat is composed of a seat member of open shell form with hooks extending downwardly from it which are sized and configured for hooked-up engagement with the front portion of a flat bench-type stadium seat, a mating one-piece back member of open shell form and wherein the backrest and seat member are adapted for telescopic interconnection of the backrest member in upstanding relation to the seat member and wherein the device includes orienting surfaces for the two members relative to one another as a carrying case and a locking means to lock the two members into a shell defining relation for use in transporting articles to and from an event.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a spectator seat and, more particularly, to aspectator seat which is adapted to be separated into a backrest memberand a seat member which can be interconnected in shell defining relationfor use thereof as an article carrying device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past there have been many types of seats which are developed forattachment at spectator's events, such as to a bench-type stadium seatover an allotted space to a ticket purchaser. This invention is of sucha seat; however, the two members, the seat member and the backrestmember, in addition to being adapted for telescopic interengagement inseat defining relation, are also adapted to be interconnected to oneanother so as to define a shell or carrying case in which articles maybe transported to and from an event. For example, one attending a paradeor a football game may wish to carry binoculars, a portable radio, and aponcho in the event of rain. The carrying case mode of the instantinvention adapts the device for carrying such articles. Also, at anevent, the backrest member may be telescopically removed from the seatmember portion of the spectator seat and utilized as an article carryingtray, all of which is described more fully hereinafter.

OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing, it is an object of this invention toprovide a spectator seat for optional use either as a carrying case fortransporting articles to and from a sporting event, for example, or inanother mode of assembly, at the sporting event, as a seat forattachment over a space on a conventional flat bench-type seat, such asis often found at stadiums and parades and wherein the seat is composedof an open shell form seat member with hooks which are adapted forhooked-up engagement with the bench-type seat over an allotted space anda mating one-piece open shell form backrest member which includes aprojecting portion for telescopic interconnection into a recess in theseat member in upstanding relation to define a seat and wherein, forease in transporting articles, the backrest member may be removed andused as a carrying tray and, finally, when the two members are inconfronting and shell defining relation, means are provided for holdingthe members together so that articles may be carried therein.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improvedstructure for a stadium seat which is composed of a removablytelescopically interconnectable seat and backrest portion which areadapted for use in assembly as a seat to provide comfortable seatingover an allotted space of a bench-type seat at an event or, optionally,for use in transporting articles to and from the event.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partly in cross-section, andillustrating the spectator seat in hooked-up engagement with aconventional flat backless stadium seat;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the telescopic interconnectionof the members comprising the spectator seat when in a mode of assemblyfor use as a seat at a stadium event;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section taken on the plane indicated by theline 5--5 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the spectator seat when in a mode ofassembly as a carrying case for transporting articles to and from astadium event; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the backrest member of the spectatorseat when in use as a carrying tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike or corresponding parts throughout the several views and referringparticularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a generally conventional flatbackless stadium seat which is suitably supported for example as by theconcrete base 14 and brackets 16. Such seats or really benches areconventionally found in many stadiums. The flat backless seat bench 18,of course has a top 20, bottom 22, and front and rear surfaces 24 and 26respectively.

The present invention is of a spectator seat with a removable backrest.It is generally indicated by the numeral 30 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and isadapted for optional use either in (a) one mode of assembly as acarrying case for transporting articles to and from a stadium event, seeFIG. 6, or (b) in another mode of assembly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,for example, as a seat for attachment over a space on a conventionalflat backless stadium seat bench.

Referring to the instant invention, the spectator seat as is generallyindicated by the arrowed line 30, it is seen to be composed of a seatmember 40 of open shell form which includes a pair of depending hookmeans 42 and 44 for hooked-up engagement with the flat stadium seat; anda mating one-piece backrest member of open shell form. These twomembers, the seat member and the backrest member are provided withmutually intercooperating means for removably and telescopicallyinterconnecting the backrest member in upstanding relation to the seatmember, as is illustrated in FIG. 2 and described more fully hereinafterand, additionally, with means for orienting and maintaining thosemembers, that is the seat member and the backrest member, in enclosedshell defining relation for use in transporting articles to and from astadium event, as seen in FIG. 6.

Referring now particularly to the seat member as opposed to the backrestmember, it is seen to be of a predetermined size adapted to fit over theconventional bench seat space which a ticket purchaser is allotted in astadium or other event, such as a parade stand. It has a seat surface 50with a lower surface 52, which define a central seat zone bounded by aforward zone 54, a rearward zone 56, and side surfaces 58 and 60interconnecting those zones. The rear zone 56 of the seat is providedwith a recess means 62 of predetermined size located between the edgesalong the rear zone. The seat is further provided with a downwardlyextending continuous peripheral skirt 64 of a predetermined uniformlength extending from the lower surface 52 of the seat member to acoplanar or flat terminal end surface 66 generally parallel to andspaced from the seat surface which, in use, rests on the seat bench. Theskirt includes a front portion 68, a rear portion 70 and a pair ofparallel side portions 72 and 74, the side portions being in confrontingrelation to one another. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, therear portion 70 of the skirt, defines the rear wall of the aforesaidrecess means 62 while a front wall 73 of this recess means is defined bya septum extending between the parallel side skirt portions 72 and 74 inspaced relation from the rear skirt portion 70. It is in this recessmeans 62 that a projection on the backrest member is telescopicallyreceived as is explained more fully hereinafter.

Referring now to the pair of hook means 42 and 44 on the seat member forattachment of it over a bench type stadium seat, as best seen, forexample in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, each is preferably of a common size andshape and includes a first or upper leg portion 75 and a second legportion 77 defining a crotch zone 79 therebetween. The first leg portionis preferably provided with an enlarged distal attachment pad zone 81and suitable means such as adhesives, bolts or screws, which secure thepad zone of each of the hooked shaped members to one or the other of theparallel skirt side portion surfaces in opposing relation to one anotherbeneath the forward zone of the seat surface. It is seen that the firstleg portion extends from the coplanar terminal end surface of the skirta distance slightly greater than the thickness of the conventional flatstadium seat, see FIG. 1. Also, the second leg portion of each of thehook means extends from the respective crotch zones rearwardly, that istowards the plane generally of the seat skirt rear portion. Thisconfiguration adapts these hook means for hooked-up engagement with aconventional flat stadium seat, as best seen in FIG. 1, with the firstleg portion in abutting engagement with the front surface of the flatstadium seat and with the second leg portion being beneath the bottomsurface of the conventional stadium seat. This restrains tiltingmovement of the seat member out of coplanar relation with the topsurface of the stadium seat bench when force from a user is exertedagainst the backrest member as would occur by a seated person.

Referring now to the backrest member designated by the arrowed line 46,it is seen that it has a main backrest surface 87 and a rear surface 89.The main surface is of a predetermined size generally congruent with theseat surface for mating with it as seen in FIG. 6. For purposes ofreference hereinafter, the backrest surface has a central zone boundedby an upper and lower zone 91 and 93 respectively and a pair of parallelside portions 94 and 95. It also has a continuous peripheral skirt 401extending from the main backrest surface a uniform length. As seen atthe top right of FIGS. 1 and 5, the distal end of the skirt is stepped,inwardly as at 101, which defines a lip that extends beyond the skirtuniform length. This provides a lip or stop means or locater means. Thislip is for orienting the seat member and the backrest member withrespect to one another when in registry as seen in FIG. 6 in the mode ofassembly for use as a carrying case for transporting articles. Toprovide a projection means on the backrest member for receipt in therecess means 62, each of the skirt side portions of the backrest arestepped inwardly toward one another adjacent the backrest skirt lowerportion as at 161 and 163 in FIG. 2. This defines what may be regardedas a projecting stabilizing nose 165 which is sized, shaped andconfigured for snug, telescopic insertion into the recess 62 of the seatmember in the preferred embodiment between the septum 73, the rear skirtportion 70 and skirt side portions 72 and 74 for assembly of thebackrest member and the seat member as seen in FIG. 2, with the backrestmember in upstanding relation relative to the seat member.

Preferably, the forward portion 68 of the skirt of the seat member andthe upper portion 91 of the skirt of the backrest member are curved awayfrom the main seat surface and the main backrest surface respectivelyoutwardly away from the seat member skirt rearward zone and backrestmember skirt wall portion respectively for comfort by the user. In apreferred embodiment, the device also include a carrying strap 201 withopposite ends 202 and 203 suitably secured as by the fastener 205 to thespectator seat. Finally, the backrest member preferably includes aplurality of recesses such as 210, 212 and 214 which are sized forreceiving cups of liquid therein, such as soft drinks or other typebeverages so that at a stadium event, parade or the like, the backrestmay be removed temporarily from telescoping assembly with the seatmember and utilized as a carrying tray at an event for refreshments, seeFIG. 7.

A preferred means for maintaining the above described two members in thearticle carrying will now be described. It utilizes the hook means andmore particularly, the second leg portion for receipt in companionatelysized slots in the backrest member for interconnection of the twomembers in closed shell orinetation to one another. To this end, thebackrest member is provided with a slot such as 301 and 302 in parallelrelation to one another located in the central zone of the mainbackrest, each slot being adjacent to one of the opposite side edges.These opposed slots are each sized and shaped to receive and nest one ofthe second leg portions 76 and 77 of the hook members therein when theseat back and seat are assembly as a carrying case for transportingarticles, as seen in FIG. 6. In the illustrated preferred embodiment,the second leg portion of each of the hooked shaped members, is providedwith an inclined upper surface as at 319 an 320 leading to a distal end322 and 324. This provides not only for accommodation of any variationin the thickness of conventional stadium backless seat benches but alsofor ease of assembly. Preferably, on the distal end of these second legportions, detent means 401 and 403 are provided for companionateengagement in detent sockets 501 and 503 of the backrest member. In usefor maintaining the seat back and seat member in the article transportmode seen in FIG. 6, the hook members of the seat member are insertedinto the slots of the backrest member until the orienting lip 101 nestsin abutting relation in and against the skirt so that the detent meansare gripped by the detent sockets. For ease in carrying the seat whenthis is in the mode shown in FIG. 6, the rear skirt portion of the seatmember and the skirt lower portion of the backrest member are eachprovided with a hand opening 601 and 602 so that when the members areassembled as a carrying case for transporting articles, one may inserttheir hand through those slots to accommodate carrying of the device.

It is seen that in the preferred embodiment, a plurality of holes areprovided in the central zone 50 of the seat member 30 for comfort; andit will be realized that a minimum number of parts characterize thisspectator seat device and that it is highly useful, convenient andcompatible. It is of molded plastic material in the rigid rangepreferably; however, other rigid materials may be used.

In use, it is thus seen that there has been provided a simple andinexpensive device which can be assembled together in either of twomodes, one as an attachment for example to a stadium seat to provide acomfortable seat with a backrest or, optionally, as a carrying case fora portable radio, poncho, binoculars or the like, as shown in FIG. 6;and that when in the seat mode, the backrest may be removed to beutilized as a tray, see FIG. 7, for carrying articles purchased at avending stand for example. The device may be made of metal, plastic, orother suitable rigid materials.

It is contemplated that in a preferred embodiment, the seat member andthe backrest member will each be of onepiece molded construction. Insuch a construction, the skirt may be of double wall thickness forincreased rigidity and that reinforcing struts or portions may beprovided across the main surface of the backrest and seat member whichare within the designs contemplated by the applicant.

While the instant invention has been shown and described in what isconsidered to be a practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognizedthat departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope ofthis invention which is, therefore, not to be limited except as setforth in the claims hereinafter and in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalence.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spectator seat for optional use either in onemode of assembly as a carrying case for transporting articles to andfrom a stadium event, or in another mode of assembly as a seat forattachment over a space on a conventional flat backless stadium benchseat of the type having a top, bottom, and front and rear surfaces,A.said seat comprising,(a) a seat member of open shell form including hookmeans sized and configured for hooked-up engagement with the top frontand bottom surfaces of the flat stadium seat, (b) a mating one-piecebackrest member of open shell form; (c) mutually intercooperating meanson said members for removably and telescopically interconnecting thebackrest member in upstanding relation to the seat member when in saidanother mode of assembly; (d) means for orienting and holding themembers in closed shell defining relation for use in transportingarticles when in said one mode of assembly.
 2. The device as set forthin claim 1 wherein said mutually intercooperating means comprises recessmeans in said seat member and projecting means on said backrest membersized, configured and snugly insertable in said recess means.
 3. Thedevice as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for orienting andholding the members in closed shell defining relation comprises anorienting lip extending from one edge of one of said members orientingthe members in mating relation with said lip in abutting engagement witha portion of the other of said members.
 4. The device as set forth inclaim 3 wherein holes are provided in said backrest member for optionaluse as a carrying tray when said backrest member is separated from saidseat member.
 5. A spectator seat for optional use either in one mode ofassembly as a carrying case for transporting articles to and from astadium event, or in another mode as a seat for attachment over anallotted space on a conventional flat backless stadium seat bench of thetype having top, bottom, front and rear surfaces;A. said seatcomprising,(a) a seat member of open shell form including hook means forhooked-up engagement with the flat stadium seat, (b) a mating one-piecebackrest of open shell form; B. a seat portion comprising,(a) a mainseat surface sized to overlay an allotted seat bench top surface, saidmain seat surface having an upper and lower surface and said uppersurface having a central zone bounded by a forward zone, a rearwardzone, and a pair of opposed side edges interconnecting said forward andrearward zones, (b) said rearward zone having recess means locatedbetween the edges including reinforcing means, (c) a downwardlyextending continuous peripheral skirt of predetermined uniform lengthextending from said lower surface with a coplanar terminal end surfacegenerally parallel to and spaced from said seat surface, and said skirtincluding a front portion, and a pair of parallel side portions, each ofsaid side portions having a surface confronting the other, C. said hookmeans comprising a first and second hook shaped member each including(a)a first leg portion and (b) a second leg portion extending away fromsaid first leg portion and defining a crotch zone between the legportions, (c) said first leg portion having a distal attachment padzone, (d) means securing the pad zone of each of the hooked shapedmembers to one of said parallel skirt side portion surfaces confrontingone another in opposing relation and located beneath the forward zone ofthe seat surface, (e) said first leg portion extending from the coplanarterminal end surface of said skirt a distance slightly greater than thethickness of a conventional flat stadium seat beneath the top and bottomsurfaces thereof, and (f) said second leg portion extending from saidcrotch zone and first leg portion away from the seat skirt frontportion, (g) said hook means being adapted for hooked-up engagement witha conventional flat stadium seat with the first leg portion in abuttingengagement with the front surface of a conventional flat stadium seatand with the second leg portion being beneath the bottom surface of saidconventional stadium seat to restrain tilting movement of the coplanarterminal end of the skirt of the seat portion out of coplanar relationwith the top surface of a conventional flat stadium seat, D. saidbackrest member comprising,(a) a first main backrest surface, and a rearsurface, said surfaces being of a common predetermined size with acentral zone bounded by an upper and a lower zone and a pair of oppositeside edges interconnecting said upper and lower zones, (b) said backrestmember having a continuous peripheral skirt extending from said backrestrear surface and including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a pairof parallel side portions, (c) said upper, lower, and parallel portionsbeing of a uniform length, and (d) said skirt having a distal end zonestepped at said uniform length defining an orienting lip to be receivedin the skirt of the seat member when said members are in said one modeof assembly as a carrying case for transporting articles, (e) said lowerportion of said backrest member skirt including projecting meanscompanionately sized for snug insertion into the recess means of saidseat member for assembly in said another mode as a seat for attachmentover a space on a conventional flat backless stadium bench seat inorientation of said backrest member in upstanding relation relative tosaid member; and E. holding means for maintaining said members in matingconfronting relation with one another when said orienting lip isreceived in the skirt of said seat member and said members are in shelldefining relation with respect to one another.
 6. The device as setforth in claim 5 wherein said reinforcing means includes a rear skirtportion interconnecting said pair of parallel side skirt portions ofsaid seat rest defining the rear wall of said recess means in said seatmember and said seat portion includes a septum extending between saidparallel side skirt portions and forming a front wall of said recessmeans in said seat.
 7. The device as set forth in claim 6 wherein saidskirt side portions of said backrest member are stepped inwardly towardone another adjacent the backrest skirt lower portion defining astabilizing nose and said projecting means comprises said nose, saidnose being companionately sized for snug telescopic insertion into saidrecess means of said seat member between said septum and said rear skirtportion.
 8. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said frontportion of the skirt of said seat member and the upper portion of saidskirt of said backrest member being curved away from said main seatsurface and said main backrest surface respectively outwardly away fromthe seat member skirt rearward zone and said backrest member skirt wallportion respectively.
 9. The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein saidseat includes a carrying strap and means securing the carrying strap atthe opposite ends thereof to said seat.
 10. The device as set forth inclaim 9 wherein said backrest member includes a plurality of recessestherein for optional use of said backrest member as a carrying tray forcups containing liquid.
 11. The device as set forth in claim 5 whereinsaid backrest member is provided with a slot in the central zoneadjacent each of said opposite side edges, each of said slots beingsized and shaped to each nest one of said second leg portions thereinwhen in said one mode of assembly as a carrying case for transportingarticles.
 12. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said holdingmeans comprises said second leg portion of each of said first and secondhooked shaped members being provided with a detent means thereon andreceiving means adjacent each of said slots sized, located and adaptedfor registry with said detent means when in said mode of assembly as acarrying case for transporting articles to and from a stadium event. 13.The device as set forth in claim 6 wherein an opening is provided in therear skirt portion of said seat member and the skirt lower portion ofsaid backrest member and comprising carrying means for carrying saidmembers when in said one mode of assembly as a carrying case fortransporting articles.
 14. The device as set forth in claim 13 whereinsaid central zone of said seat member is provided with a plurality ofholes therethrough.